Metal Recovery



For the most part I don't think that the filler has any function towards strength but it does fill the deep corrosion in places and provides a flat surface to bear against the timber members.










The hockey-stick iron strengthening struts for the side planks of the wagon were thin in places and one of them was so thin that it fractured and had to be welded. I've filled the thinned parts.



Foundry Marks

While I was doing it I took these photos including ones of the foundry mark on one of them.


This clearly shows "Parkgate" and the tail of the fish mark that is all over the ironwork of this wagon.
There's interesting stuff and photos about Parkgate here and here.


Here is the "MR" showing that the wagon was originally built for the Midland Railway.

Metal Filler


We are working to preserve as much as we can of the original ironwork.

John, the railway's engineer, has taken a look at it all and with a few exceptions thinks it's fit to keep, considering the light use the wagon will get and the importance of preserving as much as possible not only of the wagon but of its history.


I have begun work on the axle-guides to give them a flat surface to face up against the inside of the sole-bars. Using a two-part filler I am building up that face of the guides before we begin painting them. Yesterday we also took a look at the bearing edges of the guides where the axle-boxes run up and down. There is a fair amount of wear in them both in the thickness of the metal and in the width between the guides. We may have to make sleeves for the axle-boxes to run up and down the guides or build up the metal of the guides. We'll see.